the big scoop

I loved this quote when I first saw it.  I think you could easily drop off part of it and simply say... Never get so busy...you forget to make a life.  

Its been nearly 3 years in the planning.  Moving Rick's office and photo studio out of the rented space  he once had, and into our home 3 years ago has been a mixed blessing.  While its good to have Rick around the house, and has financially been a huge savings, the office has overtaken all of the family space downstairs.  It's where they boys could do homework, or hang out with friends, or watch movies.  We're all on top of each other, mixing our personal life, with business.  

So we've been taking our time and looking into all of our options.  We've looked at so many homes.  But our house has everything we need.  All we really need is space for Rick to work, with some separation from us.

Slowly the idea of adding onto our house started to take hold.  Again, we spent many months looking into what our options might be. 

So with lots of research, and great advice, and help from friends, we broke ground last week! 

Even Crosby has been a little displaced...

As the hole got deeper, I started physically feeling sicker and sicker last week.  The reflection below, is of me being wrapped in a blanket, snapping a photo, despite heat in the high 80's.  

And then the black clouds rolled in.  The streets flooded... and guess what else filled up with water?

Our freshly dug hole!  We joked about how it had gone from Rick's office to a swimming pool!  Ha- and yuck!  

But the water got pumped out the next morning and the forms went in right away.  

This is the point I was knocked down in bed, so the pouring of the concrete I missed entirely.

Fast forward to this week, and we're in waiting mode now.  The concrete has to "cure."  But soon enough the framing will begin. 

We're sort of embracing the "chaos," amidst the chaos already encircling our lives.  

We've also officially given Crosby a nickname- "therapy."  He has the biggest heart, wrapping those big paws around my arms and holding on for all he is worth.

And slowly, I've turned the corner.  Am up out of bed most of the day now.  I still tire easily, and have a host of side effects, with a new one cropping up each day it seems.  But as challenging as its been, I can't adequately express how much, others have touched me these past couple of weeks.

I was reading Annie's mailbox in the newspaper this morning and this part of a reader's letter really struck a chord with me.  She was making an observation about aging. 

"We all need to feel needed.  In our younger years we race through our busy lives.  Once we reach our senior years, all of those connections and obligations fade.  We need others to validate that we still matter..." 

I think those feelings are akin to what you feel when you're faced with living with a serious disease, like cancer.  Lately, its taken up so many parts of me, so much of my time and energy.  

So I just wanted you to know... my gratitude still grows daily.  My gifts numbering in the thousands.

Like,  when you send me a note, or text, or call me.  Or, every time a card comes in the mail.  Plus, each knock on our door, visit to our house, and gift received.  

You make me feel like I matter, and that will be the best gift I can ever receive.